2nd person point of view. Eurgh. I really didn't care about the characters, except for maybe the narrator, but I think I'd have connected to her more if the story had been told in 1st person instead of 2nd person. Still, it kept me reading. I needed to know how it ended, only it didn't. And that, more than 2nd person POV or my inability to connect to the characters, is why I didn't like this book. We get a few answers, but not many, and we don't know if she and her friend get away. I guess I expected something better from Anna Carey, after the Eve trilogy. I guess there is a sequel that finishes this story, though I was thinking it was a standalone.

Nie miałam dużych wymagań co do tej książki, wręcz sądziłam, że jest ona po prostu straszna. Byłam mile zaskoczona. Fakt...Nie jest to jakaś świetna powieść, od której nie można się oderwać, ale wcale nie taka tragiczna. Były momenty bardziej lub mniej ciekawe.

Fabuła jest interesująca a świat przyszłości, mroczny, brutalny i dobrze nakreślony. Bohaterowie  nie byli jacyś oryginalni, ale jakoś miło się czytało historię Eve. Język jest przystępny i zrozumiały dla czytelnika. Taka książka na jeden lub dwa wieczorki.

How is it possible that this book focuses on a girl waking up, remembering nothing, and yet I'm still just bored with the whole thing? I can feel the tension that's trying to be ramped up, but it all just feels so... half finished?

 

The bright side is, this is a ridiculously fast read. I read 50% in about 50 minutes. I'll probably finish this today.

   Eve has been living in Califia for 3 months. She is desperately missing Caleb and doesn't feel like she quite fits in with the other women in the camp. After hearing rumors that Caleb is injured and in an abandoned warehouse ouside Califia, Eve sets off to rescue him. It was all a trap of course and she is captured and taken to the City of Sand. When she meets the King he is not at all what Eve or I had expected. I'll just leave it at that. 

 

   I loved the City of Sand. The way the author details everything makes you feel like you are right there with Eve. This book has a bit more romance in it than the first. I don't usually care for alot of mushy, kissy-kissy romance scenes but I found myself not minding when it came to Eve and Caleb stealing moments together whenever they had a chance. 

   Once is fast-paced, engrossing, and full of twists! You'll want to read it in one sitting. Just as you start to think you might put this book down and get some much needed sleep...BAM! Another plot twist. 
   
   I will warn you though- have the next book, Rise, ready. Once leaves you with a huge cliffhanger. It will shatter your soul and have you cursing the author for leaving you broken and emotionally damaged. 

   I recommend this book for anyone that loves dystopian, post-apocalyptic or YA books. And, of course, if you've read and enjoyed the first book.

-BW

It is the night before graduation and all the girls at Eve's school are attending a celebration. As the other girls are excitedly talking about the future and their careers, Eve catches Arden sneaking away from the school. Eve follows her and learns that everything they have been told is a lie. They are not going to the city to study and learn their crafts. Instead they will be strapped to tables and used as breeding machines to help populate the new world. With the help of a teacher Eve escapes and sets off across this New America with Arden to find Califia, a safe haven for girls.

Eve is not like other dystopian heroines. She is very flawed, naive, and selfish at times. There are a few scenes where it seemed like she lacked any common sense at all. Just wait until you get to the part with the bear, you'll see what I mean.

I loved the relationship between Eve and Arden. It was so well developed and deep. They are so different yet they come to realize they have more in common they they thought.

Remember me mentioning a scene with a bear? Well that's where the love interest, Caleb, comes riding in on horseback to save the day. Despite being taught to fear men, Caleb slowly gains Eve's trust. When Eve discovers that the King's soldiers are after her she has to make the decision to stay with Caleb and risk being captured or go to Califia.

The book is gripping and well paced. I honestly could not put it down. However! I did not like the ending. Not because it was bad, but because of the decision Eve made. It left me heartbroken and angry. Why, Eve? Why? Despite my dislike of the ending, I couldn't wait to read the sequel! If you enjoyed books like Delirium, Matched and Divergent, you'll definitely want to read Eve.


-BW